Kisspeptin
Kisspeptin is a secreted neuropeptide encoded by the KISS1 gene, originally identified as a metastasis suppressor. It stimulates GnRH-induced gonadotropin secretion and regulates the pubertal activation of GnRH neurons, linking tumour biology with reproductive endocrinology. Browse Assay Genie's current range of Kisspeptin research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
Kisspeptin acts as a ligand for a G protein-coupled receptor, KISS1R. Receptor binding triggers G protein-coupled receptor signalling through activation of G(q), which drives hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) by phospholipase C. In the neuroendocrine axis, kisspeptin stimulates gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-induced gonadotropin secretion and regulates the pubertal activation of GnRH neurons.
The KISS1 gene encodes the precursor of kisspeptin, a secreted protein that belongs to the KISS1 family and is classed by HGNC in the neuropeptides gene group. Orthologues are annotated in mouse and rat as Kiss1. A polymorphism in the terminal exon of the mRNA gives rise to two protein isoforms. When the adenosine at the polymorphic site, which forms the third position of a stop codon, is absent, a downstream stop codon is used and the encoded protein extends by an additional seven amino acid residues.
The gene was characterised as a metastasis suppressor: it suppresses metastases of melanomas and breast carcinomas without affecting tumorigenicity. The encoded protein may inhibit chemotaxis and invasion, and so attenuate metastasis in malignant melanomas. Studies also suggest a putative role in regulating events downstream of cell-matrix adhesion, perhaps involving cytoskeletal reorganisation. This dual relevance to cancer research and reproductive endocrinology makes the kisspeptin protein a useful subject across several fields.
Kisspeptin stimulates GnRH-induced gonadotropin secretion and regulates pubertal activation of GnRH neurons, making it central to studies of reproductive axis control.
The KISS1 gene suppresses metastases of melanomas and breast carcinomas without affecting tumorigenicity, so it is studied as a model metastasis suppressor.
The encoded protein may inhibit chemotaxis and invasion, supporting work on how malignant cells migrate and how metastasis is attenuated.
Receptor binding activates G(q) and PIP2 hydrolysis by phospholipase C, providing a defined pathway for studying peptide-driven GPCR signalling.
Kisspeptin binds a G protein-coupled receptor and activates G(q), leading to PIP2 hydrolysis by phospholipase C. It stimulates GnRH-induced gonadotropin secretion and regulates pubertal activation of GnRH neurons. The gene also suppresses metastasis in melanoma and breast carcinoma models.
Kisspeptin is the name for the protein product of KISS1, whose full name is KiSS-1 metastasis suppressor; UniProt lists it as Metastasis-suppressor KiSS-1. A polymorphism in the terminal exon yields two isoforms, one extended by seven amino acid residues through use of a downstream stop codon.
Yes. The mouse and rat orthologues are both named Kiss1, which allows the biology of this neuropeptide to be studied in rodent models. Its links to metastasis suppression and puberty are described in the gene summary; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
The kisspeptin receptor and other pathway partners with research reagents at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q15726; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.